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Senate looks to reform recall process

Posted on 12/01/11 at 2:19pm

Senate Majority Floor Leader Arlan Meekof (R-West Olive) and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) introduced a constitutional amendment (SJR S) that limits the reasons an elected officer can be recalled. Probably in response to the recall of Rep. Paul Scott, the amendment would prohibit a recall based on “the discretionary performance or a lawful act or of a prescribed duty by an elective officer.” Officials could still be recalled for felony convictions, misdemeanor convictions involving a breach of the public trust, misappropriation of public resources and any other official misconduct.

Scott was recalled because of his support for giving tax breaks to CEOs, slashing education funding to pay for those tax breaks, and dismantling tenure. Those reasons would not have been sufficient for recall under this constitutional amendment.